The Studebaker-Packard Corporation manufactured the last Packard automobile that would ever be produced in Detroit MI.
37 Days later (August 1, 1956), Packard's successful little dealership in Paris IL would hold an auction to dispose of its meager assets before leaving the property to the Studebaker dealer with whom they had shared it:
I had been ten years old almost six months on that day and remember spending the day at the dealership watching the auction proceedings and running around unsupervised as would any ten-year-old.
'Don't know how many of you have watched their father and his brother regretfully cash in their dream in one day, but I remember the overall sadness as if it was yesterday...probably better than if it was yesterday, come to think of it!
Three specific memories of that day:
1. Dad needed to get $100 cash to the bank during the day to cover a check. He wrapped $100 cash in an envelope, placed it in my pocket, and gave me specific instructions to walk the one block south "up" to the square and then one block east to the bank. I was to go into the bank and ask for Mr. So-and-So (I forget his name), give him the money, get a receipt, and bring it back. (In 1956, $100 was more than Dad often took home in a week, so that was a Big Deal.)
2. There was a small cafe directly across the street with a lunch counter. Red vinyl stool covers; the whole nine yeards. (The building has since been leveled and it is now a vacant lot.) Dad gave me 35 cents to go buy myself lunch across the street. It bought a hot dog and drink and chips.
3. When it came time to sell the huge, vertical P-A-C-K-A-R-D neon sign on the front of the building, they had trouble getting an opening bid. I believe it ultimately sold for $1, to be taken down for scrap value.
Not a happy summer in Paris.
BP
37 Days later (August 1, 1956), Packard's successful little dealership in Paris IL would hold an auction to dispose of its meager assets before leaving the property to the Studebaker dealer with whom they had shared it:
I had been ten years old almost six months on that day and remember spending the day at the dealership watching the auction proceedings and running around unsupervised as would any ten-year-old.
'Don't know how many of you have watched their father and his brother regretfully cash in their dream in one day, but I remember the overall sadness as if it was yesterday...probably better than if it was yesterday, come to think of it!
Three specific memories of that day:
1. Dad needed to get $100 cash to the bank during the day to cover a check. He wrapped $100 cash in an envelope, placed it in my pocket, and gave me specific instructions to walk the one block south "up" to the square and then one block east to the bank. I was to go into the bank and ask for Mr. So-and-So (I forget his name), give him the money, get a receipt, and bring it back. (In 1956, $100 was more than Dad often took home in a week, so that was a Big Deal.)
2. There was a small cafe directly across the street with a lunch counter. Red vinyl stool covers; the whole nine yeards. (The building has since been leveled and it is now a vacant lot.) Dad gave me 35 cents to go buy myself lunch across the street. It bought a hot dog and drink and chips.
3. When it came time to sell the huge, vertical P-A-C-K-A-R-D neon sign on the front of the building, they had trouble getting an opening bid. I believe it ultimately sold for $1, to be taken down for scrap value.
Not a happy summer in Paris.
BP
BP
BP
Dad was, in fact, the salesman of record for one new 1955 Studebaker pickup:
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